Rich Tandler had a pretty good article this morning with five "surprise" picks the Skins could make. Good stuff:

CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State—This would be a surprise for the Redskins because not many expect him to be here at this point. But he does not seem to be as solidly in the top 25 as he was right after the combine and he could slide to the Redskins at 34.

CB Marcus Roberson, Florida—A few injuries, most notably a knee injury, hampered him last year. If the Redskins have him with a clean medical slate he could be their second-round pick.

WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State—Some would view this as a reach, some might view it as a steal. Everyone would be wondering why the Redskins spent their top pick on yet other wide receiver to go with Pierre Garçon and the two free agents they signed. But at 6-5 Benjamin has the size the other receivers lack and Jay Gruden may want that element badly enough to persuade Bruce Allen to pull the trigger here.

DE Dee Ford, Auburn—A lot of people are saying that the Redskins might want to get an edge rusher in case they can’t bring back Brian Orakpo. But I think most of those people would be surprised if it actually happens. You can sub DE Kony Ealy of Missouri or ILB Jeremiah Attaochu of Georgia Tech in this slot as well.

G Billy Turner, North Dakota State—He started for three years at tackle in college but he’s probably best suited to play inside. Turner is the combination of size (6-5, 315) and athletic ability that Gruden is looking for along the line and he might be the best player that no one has ever heard of.

Here's my question for this thread. What do you think we can realistically accomplish in the draft this year?

I'm hoping for a day one starter with the second pick, and a third rounder who contributes this year. Too much? I'll give the second rounder a pass on starting day one if its a WR or CB.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------"You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax"We’re winning off the field, but we’ve got to start winning on the field." - Bruce Allen

really don't see them taking a WR with the pick at #34 - they will go with their BPA at either OL, LB or DB ...

P A T I E N C E - Scot & Jay's goal here is to make this franchise better - it will take time they understand the need to change to primarily building through the draft - plus have some luck go their way

riggofan wrote:Man, I am SO ready. I can't wait to see what we do on Friday.

Rich Tandler had a pretty good article this morning with five "surprise" picks the Skins could make. Good stuff:

CB Darqueze Dennard, Michigan State—This would be a surprise for the Redskins because not many expect him to be here at this point. But he does not seem to be as solidly in the top 25 as he was right after the combine and he could slide to the Redskins at 34.

CB Marcus Roberson, Florida—A few injuries, most notably a knee injury, hampered him last year. If the Redskins have him with a clean medical slate he could be their second-round pick.

WR Kelvin Benjamin, Florida State—Some would view this as a reach, some might view it as a steal. Everyone would be wondering why the Redskins spent their top pick on yet other wide receiver to go with Pierre Garçon and the two free agents they signed. But at 6-5 Benjamin has the size the other receivers lack and Jay Gruden may want that element badly enough to persuade Bruce Allen to pull the trigger here.

DE Dee Ford, Auburn—A lot of people are saying that the Redskins might want to get an edge rusher in case they can’t bring back Brian Orakpo. But I think most of those people would be surprised if it actually happens. You can sub DE Kony Ealy of Missouri or ILB Jeremiah Attaochu of Georgia Tech in this slot as well.

G Billy Turner, North Dakota State—He started for three years at tackle in college but he’s probably best suited to play inside. Turner is the combination of size (6-5, 315) and athletic ability that Gruden is looking for along the line and he might be the best player that no one has ever heard of.

Here's my question for this thread. What do you think we can realistically accomplish in the draft this year?I'm hoping for a day one starter with the second pick, and a third rounder who contributes this year. Too much? I'll give the second rounder a pass on starting day one if its a WR or CB.

I'm super pumped as well, I always am at draft time and this year is no different. As for realistic accomplishments, for me I guess it depends on which way they go at 34 (offense or defense). I'd like to think, regardless of side of the ball, realistically we can draft a day 1 starter there or at least someone who can start before the years over. I originally wanted to post a specific position to your question, such as starting slot CB or ILB, however I really don't know which way they'll go. From that list you provided Billy Turner sounds like a good fit although I'd like to know more about him, I liked Dennard from the games I watched.

I really think, with the depth of this draft that we should be able to get guys who can help on special teams immediately with our 3rd,4th,5th round picks and maybe the others too and that we can get a day 1 starter from our 2nd pick. If those happen then my "realistic" expectations would be satisfied. Anything better than that, such as a undrafted free agent or late round steal , would be awesome. Lastly, I just hope we don't reach for a player based on need. Personal opinion but I think we need to draft BPA.

there's a lot of players that could go in the first round who will certainly make great NFL players and be available at #34

this is a very key pick - we need to take the BPA at OL, LB or DB

we are building - we are not fine tuning here

P A T I E N C E - Scot & Jay's goal here is to make this franchise better - it will take time they understand the need to change to primarily building through the draft - plus have some luck go their way

oneman56 wrote:I'm super pumped as well, I always am at draft time and this year is no different. As for realistic accomplishments, for me I guess it depends on which way they go at 34 (offense or defense). I'd like to think, regardless of side of the ball, realistically we can draft a day 1 starter there or at least someone who can start before the years over. I originally wanted to post a specific position to your question, such as starting slot CB or ILB, however I really don't know which way they'll go. From that list you provided Billy Turner sounds like a good fit although I'd like to know more about him, I liked Dennard from the games I watched.

I really think, with the depth of this draft that we should be able to get guys who can help on special teams immediately with our 3rd,4th,5th round picks and maybe the others too and that we can get a day 1 starter from our 2nd pick. If those happen then my "realistic" expectations would be satisfied. Anything better than that, such as a undrafted free agent or late round steal , would be awesome. Lastly, I just hope we don't reach for a player based on need. Personal opinion but I think we need to draft BPA.

Me too. I like your expectations, especially the comment on guys who can help with special teams in the later rounds. I'd call that a success.

There shouldn't be any excuse for reaching on a player with that first pick this year. Like SkinsJock is writing, we have plenty of positions that we need to improve. Just take the best guy on the board at #34. I don't care what position he plays, if he's a true play maker he will make the team better and the coaches will figure out how to use him.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------"You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax"We’re winning off the field, but we’ve got to start winning on the field." - Bruce Allen

SkinsJock wrote:this is a very key pick - we need to take the BPA at OL, LB or DB

we are building - we are not fine tuning here

If you're only drafting BPA for a specific position, isn't that pretty much the definition of fine tuning?

"OL, LB, and DB" probably covers a lot of positions on the field, so I think what you're saying is that you don't think we should take a QB/WR/TE/RB at 34. True?

There's a fair argument to be made there IMO. No denying that we need to add some legit play makers on defense. It would be hard to see taking a TE or a WR at #34 no matter how incredible the guy is and continue to neglect the defense. I think Gruden would have to LOVE a guy to go that route. Like you said, its a key pick we can't afford to miss on.

Btw I've seen it mentioned in places that the Redskins should consider drafting punter, Kirby Van Der Kamp with one of the late round picks:

5/5/14: In 2013, Van Der Kamp averaged 41.6 yards per punt with a long of 65 yards. He could be the first specialist selected. Van Der Kamp is the consensus top punter in the 2014 NFL Draft.

8/20/13: Van Der Kamp averaged 41 yards per punt in 2012 with 29 punts inside the 20-yard line for Iowa State. He had 10 punts of 50 yards or more. Van Der Kamp averaged 43 yards per punt in 2011 with 15 of 50+ yards and 21 punts placed inside the 20-yard line.

Rocca is gone and that's actually a position of need. Considering how many late round picks actually pan out, would it be crazy to use a sixth or seventh round pick on a punter? Might actually get a day one starter with that pick.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------"You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax"We’re winning off the field, but we’ve got to start winning on the field." - Bruce Allen

I am ready for us to draft some starters. We need to come away from this draft with some future pro bowlers. I imagine if we draft OL, ILB or S that they would be able to start right away especially if we get one of those positions in the second round.

HEROHAMO wrote:I am ready for us to draft some starters. We need to come away from this draft with some future pro bowlers. I imagine if we draft OL, ILB or S that they would be able to start right away especially if we get one of those positions in the second round.

Well, we have no first round pick. So I'd say we would be pretty lucky to come away with ONE future pro bowler.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------"You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax"We’re winning off the field, but we’ve got to start winning on the field." - Bruce Allen

SkinsJock wrote:this is a very key pick - we need to take the BPA at OL, LB or DB

we are building - we are not fine tuning here

If you're only drafting BPA for a specific position, isn't that pretty much the definition of fine tuning?

"OL, LB, and DB" probably covers a lot of positions on the field, so I think what you're saying is that you don't think we should take a QB/WR/TE/RB at 34. True?

There's a fair argument to be made there IMO. No denying that we need to add some legit play makers on defense. It would be hard to see taking a TE or a WR at #34 no matter how incredible the guy is and continue to neglect the defense. I think Gruden would have to LOVE a guy to go that route. Like you said, its a key pick we can't afford to miss on.

Btw I've seen it mentioned in places that the Redskins should consider drafting punter, Kirby Van Der Kamp with one of the late round picks:

5/5/14: In 2013, Van Der Kamp averaged 41.6 yards per punt with a long of 65 yards. He could be the first specialist selected. Van Der Kamp is the consensus top punter in the 2014 NFL Draft.

8/20/13: Van Der Kamp averaged 41 yards per punt in 2012 with 29 punts inside the 20-yard line for Iowa State. He had 10 punts of 50 yards or more. Van Der Kamp averaged 43 yards per punt in 2011 with 15 of 50+ yards and 21 punts placed inside the 20-yard line.

Rocca is gone and that's actually a position of need. Considering how many late round picks actually pan out, would it be crazy to use a sixth or seventh round pick on a punter? Might actually get a day one starter with that pick.

sorry you're right - I mean't that we should hopefully take a player at the positions of greatest need being the OL and DB but you're also right in that we have many players we need to add for both starting players and depth

I totally agree that the 34th pick really should be a player that can start day 1 - he's a top 50 player - we cannot afford to miss on that pick

I have a lot more faith in our current FO and talent evaluators and being that we're so starved for quality depth here I'm sure this group will bring in a number of players this year both drafted and un-drafted that can help this franchise

P A T I E N C E - Scot & Jay's goal here is to make this franchise better - it will take time they understand the need to change to primarily building through the draft - plus have some luck go their way

SkinsJock wrote:I have a lot more faith in our current FO and talent evaluators and being that we're so starved for quality depth here I'm sure this group will bring in a number of players this year both drafted and un-drafted that can help this franchise

Yeah, I guess we'll see. I think Allen, Gruden and the whole scouting dept. still have to prove it before I would say I have faith in them exactly. At least I can say I have more faith in them than I did when it was the Dan & Vinny show! (I also personally don't think Shanahan did that bad a job in the draft, would be great if the new staff can do better with the later round picks than he did I guess.)

Totally agree about our needs not just for some play makers but for quality depth. ESPN has been talking for weeks about what a deep draft this is, so if we can't get a few decent players out of it we have a real problem!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------"You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax"We’re winning off the field, but we’ve got to start winning on the field." - Bruce Allen

There's increasing noise that there are as many as 8 teams looking to draft a WR in the first round... that would mean that there would be at least a couple of reaches... good for us... Hopefully, there will also be one or two reaches at QB...

Countertrey wrote:There's increasing noise that there are as many as 8 teams looking to draft a WR in the first round... that would mean that there would be at least a couple of reaches... good for us... Hopefully, there will also be one or two reaches at QB...

Agreed! I'm liking some of this noise on the QBs right now. The more WRs and QBs who go in the first round, could be some surprising players available to us at #34. Could open up the possibility of trading down that pick too.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------"You can't do epic **** with basic people." - DJax"We’re winning off the field, but we’ve got to start winning on the field." - Bruce Allen

Countertrey wrote:There's increasing noise that there are as many as 8 teams looking to draft a WR in the first round... that would mean that there would be at least a couple of reaches... good for us... Hopefully, there will also be one or two reaches at QB...

Agreed! I'm liking some of this noise on the QBs right now. The more WRs and QBs who go in the first round, could be some surprising players available to us at #34. Could open up the possibility of trading down that pick too.

Agree. Having the 2nd pick of the Second Round could leave some teams coveting that pick over night. It could prove very enticing to a few teams. I'm hoping we face two scenarios: 1) with all the WR's, QB's, and possible over reaches in the 1st, it could be possible that a player we never thought we'd have a chance to draft is sitting there at 34. C.J. Moseley? 2) We are able to trade down and we have FIVE possible targets available for Right Tackle -- Morgan Moses, Joel Bitonio, Jake Mewhort, Kwanjio, and my sleeper Antonio Richardson. We could easily trade down more than a dozen spots in the second and have several of these players still available. If trading down allows us to get one of them AND the Center from USC then we're dancin'.

If cj moseley is available at 34, unless we are trading back two spots and "know" the team behind us isn't picking him , we should run to the podium with his name written in big block letters. If Mosley, dennard, Pryor and one of the upper echelon right tackles is available, ok, maybe trade back, but I'd value getting one of those named players over any RT that would reasonably be available.

I know he got a pretty good zip on the ball. He has a quick release. . . once I seen a coupla' throws, I was just like 'Yeah, he's that dude.'"